To make the most of your time at an educational technology conference, focus on networking with professionals in your field, attending relevant workshops and presentations, and actively participating in discussions and Q&A sessions. Prioritize sessions that align with your interests and goals, and don't forget to exchange contact information with valuable connections you make. Take notes, ask insightful questions, and follow up after the conference to continue building relationships and applying new insights to your work.

To me, preparation is the most important aspect. Review the presentation agenda ahead of time and look for ones that will challenge you. Also take a look at what vendors and sponsors will be there, and if you need to connect with them, pre-book a meeting with the right person. Finally, if the attendee list is public, find the colleagues or friends that you want to connect with and reach out ahead of time, maybe schedule a coffee or dinner. You want to be able to maximize your time.

Conferences are great to build your network and understanding what are the hot topics in your industry. Being able to effectively connect with others, build relationships, and exchange ideas are invaluable for personal and professional growth.

Most people love to gravitate to old friends and colleagues at conferences. I like to take a different approach. A method I have found to be the most impactful is to sit with new people you’ve never met. This not only expands your network, but it expands the window to thought diversity. You’ll be tempted to then sit with your new friends for the remainder of the conference, but again, finding more new friends for each day will help you gain both breadth and depth of a newfound network. Another refreshing tactic is to find a person that asked a compelling question in a session or breakout group. Invite that person to have a conversation either immediately following or exchange contact information and schedule a post-conference meeting.

As an introvert, it's key to network in my style as opposed to overloading myself with meetings and outings to the point that I can't get anything out of the experience. Taking on visible roles during conferences, like volunteering or chairing sessions, has been a great way to make myself visible and meet the right people, and then allow some breaks throughout the day. Following up with an email reiterating something from your conversation can help solidify connections as well.

After attending industry conferences, I like to write a report for my leadership (if they funded my attendance) and for myself. In the report I offer a summary of each session I attended with noteworthy learning, contacts, and presenters. The report serves as a resource document that I can revisit to implement new practices. It also provides guidance for whether the event was and would be a good return on the investment (ROI) of time and expense. If you have a hard time finding worthwhile new practices when writing your report, that might be a reason not to attend in the future. The report might also include tips for local lodging, directions, and restaurants to visit (or not).

Determine o que você quer alcançar na conferência, seja para aprender sobre novas tecnologias, conhecer novos clientes ou fortalecer relacionamentos com parceiros existentes.